Oklahoma Olympians

Many athletes with Oklahoma ties will be competing in the Olympics this month.

While the Olympic Games are all about cheering on the U.S. contenders and their dedication to athleticism, there are plenty of reasons to have state pride this year as well. Whether the athlete is from Oklahoma, studied here or even just lives here, Oklahoma has been part of the lives of many athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Here’s a comprehensive list of Olympians with Oklahoma ties so you can cheer on your country as well as your state this summer.

Kevin Durant

Basketball Former Oklahoma City Thunder player
Although many Thunder fans were disappointed in Durant’s choice to leave the Thunder, he served as the face of the team for many years and helped lead the Thunder to the 2012 NBA Finals and the conference finals in four seasons. By establishing the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation, which enriches the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds, Durant proves he offers much more than athletic talent.

Chris Brooks

Gymnastics Attended the University of Oklahoma Brooks became interested in gymnastics in 1991 at the age of four, and he later helped lead the Sooners to the NCAA title in 2008 and was an alternate in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. As of now, his favorite event is the horizontal bar.

Jake Dalton

Gymnastics Attended the University of OklahomaDalton’s life has gymnastics in every corner – he got his start training at a gymnastics club his parents owned, and he married Kayla Dalton, another gymnast at OU. Dalton also started his own clothing line, Mesomorphic Clothing. He placed fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games as part of the U.S. team for floor exercise.

Alex Naddour

Gymnastics Attended the University of OklahomaIn college, Naddour won back-to-back NCAA titles on pommel horse for OU. He was selected as an alternate in the 2012 Olympics, and this will be Naddour’s first run competing at the Olympics.

Anthony Fahden

Rowing, lightweight four Member of the U.S. Rowing Training Center in Oklahoma CityFahden is a graduate of Dartmouth College. Originally, Fahden’s athletic focus was on ice hockey, but he found a new passion in rowing. He placed eighth in the 2012 Olympics and has qualified again this year.

Photo by John Cheng, courtesy USA Gymnastics.

Edward King

Rowing, lightweight four Member of the U.S. Rowing Training Center in Oklahoma City
Edward is an active duty U.S. naval officer, and he will become the first rower from the U.S. Naval Academy to race in the Olympic games since the ’80s. This will be King’s first stint as an Olympic athlete.

Tyler Nase

Rowing, lightweight four Member of the U.S. Rowing Training Center in Oklahoma City
Nase is a Princeton University ’13 alumnus. This will be his first year competing in the Olympic games. Fun fact: Nase watches the movie Gladiator before each race.

Robin Prendes

Brittany Borman (USA) places sixth in the women’s javelin at 192-9 (58.76m) during IAAF Birmingham Diamond League meeting at Alexander Stadium on Sunday, June 5, 2016, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Photo by Jiro Mochizuki

Rowing, lightweight four Member of the U.S. Rowing Training Center in Oklahoma City
Prendes is a graduate of Princeton University and speaks both Portuguese and Spanish. He placed eighth in the 2012 Olympics and has qualified again this year.

Rob Munn

Rowing, eight Oklahoma City resident
Munn will be attending the Olympics for the first time in his career this summer, although he has competed and placed in several other championships. Fun fact: Munn is an Eagle Scout.

Devery Karz

Rowing, lightweight double sculls Oklahoma City resident
Karz is originally from Park City, Utah but recently made her way to Oklahoma City. She is fluent in Mandarin and Spanish. This will be Karz’s first stint as an Olympian.

Meghan O’Leary

Rowing, double sculls Hometown of Tulsa and a member of the U.S. Rowing Training Center in Oklahoma City
O’Leary worked at ESPN before leaving to pursue her career in rowing in 2010. After only six years of training, this will be her first year competing in the Olympics.

Photo by John Cheng, courtesy USA Gymnastics.

Ellen Tomek

Rowing, double sculls Member of the U.S. Rowing Training Center in Oklahoma City
Tomek was born in Flint, Michigan. She competed in the 2008 Olympics and placed fifth in her event. Fun fact: Tomek enjoys playing the saxophone, skiing and watching the Green Bay Packers.

David Plummer

Swimming Hometown of Norman
Plummer was born and raised in Norman. He is a World Championships medalist and a 14-time NCAA All-American. Plummer has three brothers: Roy, Ryan, and Nate, who are also swimmers.

Stephen Lambdin

Taekwondo Oklahoma City resident
Although this will be Lambdin’s first year at the Olympics, he is no stranger to success in a competitive atmosphere. He has medaled in the Pan American Taekwondo Championships as well as the Pan American Games and World University Championships.

Shadrack Kipchirchir

Track and field Attended Oklahoma State University
Kipchirchir is a U.S. Army Specialist and a member of the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program. He studied at OSU and has two siblings who also competed in collegiate athletics in the U.S.

Gil Roberts

Track and field Hometown of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Roberts has accrued several honors in his athletic career. He was a member of the U.S. team who won the gold medal in the Men’s 4×400 meters relay at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships. Roberts also won the 2014 U.S. Outdoor Championship.

Michael Rodgers

Track and field Attended Oklahoma Baptist University
Rogers won several NAIA individual titles during college and held the top 60-meter time in the world in 2011. His personal best time of 9.85 is tied for fifth on the all-time U.S. list.

Will Claye soars above the competition to win the triple jump at the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Photo courtesy USATF

Brittany Borman

Track and field Attended the University of Oklahoma
Although Borman began her collegiate career at UCLA, she transferred to OU in 2009. There she thrived, winning back-to-back NCAA national titles in 2011 and 2012 and becoming a three-time Big 12 outdoor champ in the javelin.

Will Claye

Track and field Attended the University of Oklahoma
Claye will be returning to the Olympics for the second time in his career this summer. He medaled in the London 2012 games, winning a bronze in the long jump and a silver in the triple jump.

Chatchai Somwat / Shutterstock.com

Rickie Fowler

Golf Attended Oklahoma State University
Fowler has three PGA tour wins under his belt along with a wide selection of other championships. This will be his first trip to the Olympics. Fowler can often be seen wearing orange to honor OSU.